Senior Pupils complete NPLQ training

Leading the way!

Working in partnership, Active Schools Aberdeenshire, Banff Academy and Deveron Community and Sports Centre were able to train 12 new lifeguards.

Following the success of the 2022-2023 project where 8 senior pupils at Banff Academy were trained as lifeguards, of which 4 are now employed with Live Life Aberdeenshire as Leisure Assistants, the decision was made to run the project again in the 2023-2024 school year.

Like previous years, senior pupils volunteered with Active Schools and in return received NPLQ training.  Adaptations were made after consultation with previous pupils enhancing the experience for the pupils volunteering. Pupils would sit their NPLQ course during the Easter holidays after volunteering over terms 1, 2 and 3.

Growing from last year, pupils from other school networks were invited to take part in the project by reaching out to their local Active Schools Coordinator. As a result, two pupils from Turriff Academy joined the 8 pupils from Banff Academy.  The remaining spaces on the NPLQ course were offered to the public via the waiting list.

Volunteering

All senior pupils volunteered one afternoon per week over terms 1, 2 and 3. As a group all Banff Network Primary Schools, Aberchirder, Banff, Bracoden, Fordyce, Macduff, Ordiquhill, Portsoy and Whitehills benefited.

The Schools were offered curricular Play Leader and First Aid training and after-school clubs.

Achievements

The senior pupils with the mentorship of the Active Schools Coordinator managed to achieve some fantastic results:

• 201pupils across the eight network schools received Play Leaders training.
• 436 pupils completed at least one First Aid Workshop
• 656 First Aid Workshop certificates were handed out
• 21 after-school clubs were offered, 16 ran
• 59 distinct participants in terms 1 & 2 (5.42%) and 90 distinct participants in term 3 (9.44%) attended at least one after-school session
• 73 available sessions (T1=19, T2=9, T3=45)
• 606 pupil visits (T1=158, T2=72, T3=376)

Feedback

Over the project each senior pupil developed and grew as individuals. Some of their feedback given gives a great insight of their many achievements.

What did you like most?

• First Aid and Play Leaders
• First Aid sessions
• I liked being a role model for the children
• Being a role model for the younger pupils
• Working with the kids and being a role model to the younger kids
• Car ride / Calum's teaching
• Delivering Play Leaders

What did you like least?

• I least liked the day of the exam, was delighted when it was over
• I least liked the theory but that’s just me
• How it was once a week, made it harder to remember absolutely everything
• Exam – made me feel anxious and scared
• Being separated over so many weeks
• The Test

What made you feel good about yourself?

• It’s made me feel good that now if there was a situation, even not just in the pool but in day-to-day life that now I have the skills that I would be able to help someone if they were in trouble.
• It made me feel accomplished at the end and was very fun, wouldn’t change anything
• When I managed to do practical work correctly
• Being able to save someone in or out the water
• Helping the P6/P7’s
• Passing

What have you learned (about yourself)?

• I’ve learnt that I am capable of more than I thought, and I can work well and communicate as part of a team.
• I've learned teamwork skills from this and hope to take this to a further level and get a job to do with the course
• That I can come out my comfort zone
• More Confident, more determined
• That I am alright at explaining things to the younger age groups
• Confidence

Sign me up!

We now hope to run the project again next Academic year. Making some adjustments to make 2024-2025 even bigger and better.

If you would like to get involved or just want more information, please contact Active Schools via email activeschools@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. 

All volunteers will be required to be enrolled through our Aberdeenshire Council’s volunteer policy and pre-enrolment checks.